Dental cuspidor system



Jan. 3, 1967 H. u. DEELEY, JR, ETAL 3,295,148

DENTAL GUSPIDOR SYSTEM Filed Dec. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 %,4 BY:"///g4 4 W Jan. 3, 1967 Filed Dec.

H- U. DEELEY, JR., ETAL DENTADCUSPIDOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/ASk/N4/. [7551.5 .78

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United States Patent 3,295,148 DENTAL CUSPIDOR SYSTEM Haskin U. Deeley,512, Baltimore, Md, and Henry M.

Thornton, J13, York, Pa, assignors to The Dentists Supply Company of NewYork, York, Pa, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No.331,229 16 Ciaims. (Cl. 4-263) This invention relates to a dentalcuspidor system and, more particularly, to a portable dental cuspidorwhich is hand-held by a patient who controls the flushing water supplyand in which the discharge therefrom is under suction, the control ofwhich is automatically operated.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in a dentaloperatory, a cuspidor system embodying a portable hand-held cuspidorunit connected by flexible conduits to a water supply and to a suctionoperated discharge unit remotely located from the cuspidor unit, wherebycontrol of the suction is more or less handled by the dentist or dentalassistant, and the flow of water is controlled by the patient.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental cuspidor systemhaving a portable hand-held cuspidor that is'connected by a coaxialflexible duplex conduit to a water supply and suction operated dischargemeans such that when the cuspidor is mounted on a support the suctionsystem is not in operation, and when the cuspidor is removed from thesupport and placed in the hand of a patient, the suction operateddischarge means is substantially rendered operative and wherein thesupply of flushing water to the cuspidor is under direct control of thepatient through activation of a valve on the cuspidor that is operatedby a finger of the hand holding the cuspidor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a funnel-shapedcuspidor or analogous receptacle having a depending shank into which isdetachably inserted a hose coupling assembly having attached thereto apair of flexible coaxial hoses, the inner of which is a water supplyhose and the outer of which is a suction discharge hose; the cuspidorhaving on its rim a perforated conduit for delivering water along theinside wall surface thereof to flush the same, the conduit beingconnected by a passageway with the water supply hose, and I9. fingeroperated valve is provided in the passageway for controlling the flow ofwater therethrough into said conduit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a readily detachablebayonet slot type of connection between the hose coupling assembly andthe shank of the funnel shaped cuspidor, the shank preferably includinga spring pressed device for maintaining the hose coupling assembly inits locked relation to the shank.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electricallypowered suction unit at a fixed location in a dental operatory to whichthe discharge end of the suction hose is connected and a switchoperating hook lever is mounted at a selected fixed location remote fromsaid suction unit for supporting the cuspidor when not in use, theswitch being open and the suction unit inoperative when the hook leveris supporting the cuspidor and when the cuspidor is removed from thebracket lever the switch is closed to automatically start the suctionunit in operation.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a portable dentalcuspidor system that is efficient in operation, sanitary, and easy todisassemble, clean and sterilize; that will by its use dispense with theconventional bulky, space occupying cuspidor structure customarilylocated at the left side of a dental chair and thereby permit greateraccessibility to the patient as well as greater maneuverability by thedentist.

Details of the foregoing object and of the invention, as

well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the portable dental cuspidor system withthe portable cuspidor shown mounted on a supporting hook in anon-operative position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the portable dental cuspidor system ofFIG. 1 with the portable cuspidor shown held in the hand of a patientand in operative position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view of the cuspidor and hose couplingassembly.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the portable cuspidor with thehose coupling assembly operatively connected thereto.

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the water delivery conduit at therim of the portable cuspidor.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hose coupling body.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view partly in elevation of the combined coaxialtubular water and suctional unit contained within the hose coupling bodyand forming therewith the hose coupling assembly.

FIG. 8 is an elevational sectional view of the cuspidor shank showingdetails of the spring pressed retainer pins for holding the hosecoupling assembly in locked position within the shank.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, detailed sectional view of FIG. 8 showing thehose coupling assembly positioned within the shank and the manner inwhich the spring pressed retaining pins engage the contained end of thehose coupling assembly.

The portable dental cuspidor system Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, the portable dental cuspidor system comprises a conventionalsuction unit 10 which may either be in a dental stand or in a separatecompartment somewhere convenient in a dental operatory, the suction unit10 being operated by a pump 12 driven by an electric motor 14. Mountedon a wall 16 or any other rigid support in convenient remoterelationship to the suction unit 10 is a switch 18 provided with a hooklever 20 for operating the switch. The hook lever 20 constitutes amovable yoke-like bracket for supporting a funnel-shaped cuspidor 22which, by virtue of its weight, will hold the hook lever 20 down to holdthe switch 18 in open position. Switch 18 is connected to a source ofelectric supply and to the motor 14 by the circuit wires 24.

The cuspidor 22 has secured to the discharge spout 26 thereof (see FIG.2), one end of a coaxial flexible duplex hose or conduit 28, 30 of whichthe outer flexible hose 28 is a suction hose and the inner flexiblehose, of smaller diameter than the suction hose, is a water hose forsupplying fiushing water to the inside Wall surface of the cuspidor 22,in a manner that will be hereinafter described. The other end of thesuction hose 28 is appropriately connected to the suction unit 10, whilethe other end of the water hose 30 passes through the wall of thesuction hose 28 at a convenient location for connection to a watersupply source 32 at city pressure. It is to be understood that thecoaxial duplex hose 28, 30 may be of any desired length to accommodatethe desired range of portability of the cuspidor 22. A suitable conduitor hose 34 connects pump 12 to the suction unit 10.

It will be seen that the portable cuspidor system is placed in operationby first connecting the motor 14 and switch 18 to a source of electricsupply, as by inserting plug 35 into a convenient electric socket.Subsequent removal of the cuspidor 22 from its supporting hook lever 20will cause switch 18 to close the circuit, the hook lever 20 beingraised by a spring (not shown). The required suction is then establishedby the pump 12, driven by motor 14. The cuspidor 22, when removed by thedentist or dental assistant from its supporting hook lever 20, is placedin the hand of a patient as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when the patientwants to spit, he will apply finger pressure to a valve operating lever36 of a valve 38, to be hereinafter described, to initiate the flow ofwater inside of the cuspidor.

It is apparent that the mere act, by the dentist or dental assistant, ofvremoving the cuspidor 22 from its supporting hook lever 20 will closeswitch 18 to automatically start the motor 14 of the suction unit.Placing the cuspidor 22 in the hand of the patient gives him control ofthe delivery of water, which commences only when he actuates valve 38.Thus, control of the suction is more or less handled by the dentist ordental assistant, whereas the flow of water is controlled by thepatient.

The portable cuspidor Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9, there isillustrated therein the funnel-shaped cuspidor 22 with discharge spout26, which in its preferred embodiment comprises a cup 40 offrusto-conical form, and the dischargespout 26, see FIG. 3, constitutesa cup base 42 whichis of cylindrical shape to provide a shank or socket44 of. a length and diameter convenient to be held in the hand of apatient. Preferably'the cup 40 is made of stainless steel while the cupbase 42 may be cast brass, bronze, or other rust-proof material. Theupper end portion of the cup base is flared as at 46 to provide a cupreceiving portion, the interior of which has a frusto-conical seat 48complementary in shape to the lower end of the funnel shaped cup 40, seeFIG. 4. The flared upper end 46 of the cup base is permanently securedto the lower end of the cup 40 in any desired manner, as by soldering orbrazing.

The lower end of cup 40 is provided with an opening 50 that registerswith an axial bore or passageway 52 provided in the cup base 42. Thebore 52 has an upper flared portion 54 that serves in effect toaccommodate the diameter of the cup opening 50 to the diameter of thebore 52 to insure an'even discharge from the cup 41) without backing upof the water. The lower portion of bore 52 is of a diameter slightlygreater than the diameter of the upper portion of bore 52 to provide ashoulder 56, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and beneath theshoulder 56 there is formed an annular groove 58 for an O-ring seal 60,the bore 52 atits lower terminal end being flared as at 62, and at apoint which lies substantially midway of the length of the shank 44.Just beneath the flared lower end 62 of the bore 52 there is formed inthe shank 44 a cylindrical chamber 64 having adjacent its upper end, anannular groove 66 for an O-ring seal 68 of larger size than seal 60.Located in the cylindrical wall 70 defining the cylindrical chamber 64and adjacent its lowermost end, are diametrically opposed locking pins72, forming part of a bayonet slot connection for the hose couplingassembly to be described.

From the base 74 of the cylindrical chamber 64 there extends upwardlyand parallel to the axis of bore 52 a passageway 76 that connects at itsupper end with a passageway 78 formed in the wall of the flared end 46of the shank 44, the terminal upper end of passageway 78 being ofenlarged diameter as at 80. l

The valve body 82 of the valve 38 is provided with short connecting tube84 and a discharge water tube 86. The outer end of connecting tube 84 isfitted into the enlarged diameter end 80 of passageway 78 and is fixedlysecured suitably therein to efiect a water-tight connection. The outerand upper end of the discharge tube 86 is connected to an annular tube88 rigidly secured by brazing or otherwise, see FIG. 5, to the upperperipheral edge of the cup 40. Provided in the bottom of the annulartube 88 is a row of circumferentially spaced openings 90 that arepreferably tangentially directed towards the inside funnel-shapedsurface of the cup 48 to effect a swirling action of the water as it isdischarged to insure a maximum flushing action.

It is to be noted that the valve 38 is rigidly held in position on theoutside of the cup 40 by the connecting or inlet tube 84 and dischargetube 86. Due to the connecting tube 84 being short, as seen in FIG. 4,it is wholly contained within the valve body 82 and the enlargeddiameter end of the passageway 78 so that the lower side of the valvebody 82 is firmly seated within a suitably shaped notch provided within,or against a suitable surface 92 provided on the edge portion of theflared upper end 46 of the cup base shank 44.

The valve 38 comprises a valve plunger 94 axially movable within a bore96 in the valve body 82. A stem 98 on the valve plunger 94 extendsoutwardly of the valve body 82 and is pivotally connected to a lever 100as at 102. With the bore 96 and surrounding the stem 98 is a compressioncoil spring 104 seated at one end on the valve plunger 94 and at itsother end against a fixed washer 106 held in place by a retaining ring108. The lever 160 is formed to provide a fulcruming portion 110 and anangular finger engaging portion 112 disposed to lie adjacent to andparallel with the cup base shank 44.

It will thus be seen that pressure applied by a finger of the handholding the cuspidor on the finger engaging portion 112 of the leverwill fulcrum the lever 100 on the valve body 82, as at 114, to move thevalve plunger 94 outwardly off of its valve seat 116 against the actionof coil spring 104. The valve seat 116 has a central port 118 whichconnects with an inlet passage 120 provided within the valve body 82,the inlet passage 120 in turn connecting with the water inlet tube 84.Provided in the valve body 82 adjacent the valve seat 116 is a lateraloutlet passage 122 that connects bore 96 with the water discharge tube86. Thus, with the plunger valve 94 moved away from its valve seat 116,water entering passage 120 will flow through port 118 into bore 96 andout through passage 122 into the water discharge tube 86 to be conveyedto annular tube 88.

The hose coupling assembly The hose coupling assembly 139, shown inelevational view in the lower part of FIG. 3, comprises a tubular bodymember 132 formed of plastic or any other suitable material, having anaxial bore 134. At opposite ends of bore 134 cylindrical recesses 136,138 respectively are formed and are of a diameter greater than that ofbore 134, the upper recess 136 being rather shallow While the lowerrecess 138 is of substantial length. The upper end portion of thetubular member 132 is cylindrical to provide a head 140 formed with areduced diameter extension 142 forming shoulder 144, the length ofextension 142 being substantially equal to the depth of upper recess136. Provided in the head 140 are a pair of diametrically 0pposedbayonet slots 146, the entrance openings of which are at the shoulder144. Preferably the peripheral upper edge of extension 142 is beveled asat 148. The tubular body member 132 is tapered downwardly below the head140 to provide along with the cup base shank 44, when the hose couplingassembly is attached thereto as will be hereinafter described, a handlefor the cuspidor that can be easily grasped and held in the hand of apatient.

For containment within the tubular member 136 there is provided a metaltube assembly 150, as shown in FIG. 7. This assembly comprises an outermetal discharge tube 152 and an inner, coaxial water supply tube 154.The upper end of the inner tube 154 has a lateral bend 156, whichextends through an opening of a size to snugly receive the same in theside of the outer tube 152 adjacent the top thereof. The lateral bend156 is permanently secured to the outer tube 152 by brazing, orotherwise, to eifect both a rigid connection and water-tight seal.Preferably, the terminal end of the lateral bend 156 is made to lieflush with the exterior surface of the outer tube 152. The length of theinner tube 154 is such as to extend outwardly beyond the lower terminalend of the outer tube 152 to facilitate the connection of a supply tubethereto. The outer tube 152 has an outside diameter such as to have asubstantially close fit within the axial bore 134 of the tubular member132 when it is inserted therein to complete the hose coupling assembly.

The metal tube assembly 150 is so dimensioned that, when fitted withinthe tubular member 132, the lower end of the outer tube 152 will lieflush with the lower terminal end of the tubular member 132; thedischarge opening of the lateral bend 156 of inner tube 154 will liewithin the upper recess 136 of the tubular member, see FIG. 4; while theupper end portion 158, which is slightly tapered as at 160, will extendbeyond the extension 142 thereof, see FIG. 3. The outer tube 152 of themetal tube assembly 150 is permanently secured to the plastic tubularbody member 132 by epoxy cement or the plastic tubular member 132 may bemolded, in situ, around the outer tube 152.

Attached to the hose coupling assembly 130 is one end of the coaxialduplex flexible hose 28, 30. The end of the inner water supply flexiblehose 30 is slipped over the lower extended end of metal inner tube 154and is fixedly secured thereto in water-tight engagement in accordancewith conventional practice, as for example, by cement or appropriateclamping means (not shown). The corresponding end of the flexible outersuction hose 28 receives the lower portion of the outer metal tube 152that, see FIG. 4, is contained within the lower cylindrical recess 138which, with the lower end of tube 152, defines annular space 162 withinwhich said corresponding end of hose 28 is secured appropriately in bothair and watertight engagement. The end of the suction hose 28 which issecured to the metal tube 152 thus is concealed from view.

With the coaxial duplex flexible hose 28, 30 thus connected to the hosecoupling assembly 130, the latter is then connected to the cup baseshank 44 by insertion of head 140 into the cylindrical chamber 64, thebayonet slots 146 registering with locking pins 72 which, when seated inthe bottom of said slots, will limit the extent of insertion of head 140Within cylindrical chamber 64. It is to be noted that the extension 142of head 140 will engage the O-ring seal 68, see FIG. 4, and will extendbeyond the seal with its upper terminal end spaced from base 74 ofchamber 64. Partial rotation of the hose coupling assembly 130 willplace the locking pins 72 within the ends of the bayonet slots 146,thereby locking the hose coupling assembly 130 to the cup base shank 44.It is further to be noted that the extension 158 of outer metal tube 152of the metal tube assembly 150 is inserted into bore 52 to engage theO-ring seal 58 and extends therebeyond with its upper terminal endseated on shoulder 56, the lower flared end 62 of bore 52 facilitatingthe insertion of extension 158 into the bore 52, see FIG. 4.

To prevent the hose coupling assembly 130 from accidental turning andworking loose from the cup base shank 44, there is provided within saidshank 44, a pair of spring pressed retaining pins that engage the topsurface 164 of the head extension 142 with firm but yieldable pressure.Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that there is providedWithin the cup base shank 44 on each side of bore 52, a verticallydrilled hole 170 that opens into the face of base 74 of chamber 64. Theholes 170 lie in a plane which disposed 90 to the diametral plane of thelocking pins 72. The lower end portion 172 of each hole 170 is ofenlarged diameter and is threaded to receive a threaded retaining sleeve174. Slidable within each hole .170 is a plunger 176 having a stem orretaining pin 178 that extends downwardly through and beyond the sleeve174, the lower terminal end of each stem 178 preferably being rounded.Positioned within each hole is a compression coil spring 180 that actson plunger 176 to urge the same downwardly with adequate force to retainthe bayonet slot connecting means releasably in engagement.

With the hose coupling assembly inserted and locked within cup baseshank 44, as described above, it will be seen that the pressure of thestems or retaining pins 178 applied to the top surface 164 of the headextension 142, under the action of the compression springs 180, willpreclude any accidental jarring or working loose of the bayonet slotconnections, thus insuring a positive leakproof engagement 'and/ orconnection of the hose coupling assembly 130 with the cup base shank 44of the cuspidor.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the connection of the hosecoupling assembly 130 with the cup base shank 44 will provide, withinthe latter, an annular water distribution channel 182 that is defined bythe inner end of cylindrical chamber 64 beyond O-ring seal 68, includingbase 74, the upper cylindrical recess 136 of tubular body member 132,and outer tube 152 of the metal tube assembly 150. Water supplied bysupply hose 30 of the coaxial duplex hose will flow through metal innerwater tube 154 into the annular water distribution channel 182, throughpassageways 76, 78 and connecting tube 84 into valve body 82. Operationof the valve lever 100, by the patient, as previously described, willcause water to flow from the valve body 82, through discharge water tube86 for delivery to annular perforated tube 88 and provide flushing waterfor the cuspidor.

For purposes of cleaning and sterilizing the equipment, the cuspidor,per se, embodying both cup 40 and cup base shank 44, is readilydisconnected from the plastic hose coupler assembly 130.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference toa preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated anddescribed, since the may be carried out in other Ways falling within thescope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A portable dental cuspidor fluid and debris receiving and dischargingsystem comprising:

(a) a power operated patient-controllable suction unit,

(b) a portable hand-held dental cuspidor receptacle having a dischargespout for receiving and discharging fluid and debris and arranged to beengaged by the hand of a patient adjacent said discharge spout,

(c) a flexible suction hose connecting the discharge spout of saidreceptacle to said suction unit,

(d) a flexible water delivery hose connecting said receptacle to asource of water under pressure,

(e) valve means on said receptacle :for controlling the delivery ofwater from said water delivery hose to said receptacle for flushing thesame and having an operating member adjacent said discharge spout forengagement by the finger of a patient while the receptacle is being heldin the hand of a patient,

(f) support means for said receptacle when not in use positionedremotely from said suction unit, and

(g) control means forming part of said support means connected to saidpower operated suction unit, operative both on supporting or removal ofsaid receptacle from said support means respectively to stop andinitiate operation of said power operated suction unit.

2. The dental cuspidor unit according to claim 1 further characterizedby said power operated suction unit comprising a fluid pump and anelectric motor connected thereto and operable to drive :sai-d pump, andsaid control means comprising an electric switch having an operatingmember interengagea'ble by said support means for said cuspidorreceptacle when said receptacle is moved between supporting andnon-supporting positions with respect thereto.

3. A portable dental cuspidor system comprising:

(a) an electric power operated suction unit,

(b) a portable hand-held cuspidor unit having a discharge spout,

(c) a water conduit in said cuspidor unit for discharging waterthereinto to flush the same,

(d) a duplex fiexible hose comprising a suction hose and a waterdelivery hose coextensive with each other,

(e) the suction hose connecting said discharge spout to said suctionunit,

(f) the water delivery hose connecting said water conduit to a source ofwater under pressure,

(g) valve means in said water conduit for controlling the discharge ofwater into said cuspidor unit in cluding an operating member actuated bya finger of the hand when holding the cuspidor unit,

(h) support means located remotely from said suction unit including amovable member for supporting said cuspidor unit when not in use,

(i) a switch forming part of said support means and connected to saidmovable member for actuation thereby, and

(j) an electric circuit connecting said switch and electric poweroperated suction unit to a source of electric supply,

(k) said switch being operative to open the circuit when the movablemember supports said cuspidor unit, and when said cuspidor unit isremoved from said movable member said switch being operative to closethe circuit, thereby respectively to stop and start the operation of thesuction unit.

4. The portable dental cuspidor system of claim 3, in-

cluding:

(a) a unit-handled hose coupling assembly detachabtly connected to thedischarge spout 'of said cuspidor unit,

(b) said hose coupling assembly providing an outer discharge tube and acoaxial inner water supply tube, to the lower ends of which arerespectively connected said suction hose and said water delivery hose,

(c) said hose coupling assembly by its connection to the discharge spoutof said cuspidor unit forming a direct connection of the upper end ofthe outer discharge tube to the discharge outlet of said cuspidor unitand a direct connection of the upper end of said water supply tube tosaid water conduit in said cuspidor unit, whereby said cuspidor unit maybe detached from said hose coupling assembly for cleaning andsterilization.

5. The portable dental cuspidor system of claim 4,

wherein:

(a) the detachable connection of said hose coupling assembly to thedischarge spout of said cuspidor unit constitutes a bayonet slotconnection, and

(b) spring pressed retaining pins are mounted within said dischargespout of said cuspidor unit and are engageable with said hose couplingassembly adjacent said bayonet slot connection thereof to retain thelocked connection therebetween, thereby to prevent accidental turning,loosening or removal of the hose coupling assembly from said cuspidorunit.

6. The portable cuspidor system of claim 5, including:

(a) an upper sealing structure carried by said discharge spout of saidcuspidor unit for coaction with the upper end of the discharge tube ofsaid hose coupling assembly to eflect an air and water-tight sealtherebetween,

(b) an annular water distribution channel formed between the upper endof said hose coupling assembly, the upper end of said discharge tube andsaid discharge spout, said channel interconnecting the upper end of saidwater supply tube with the lower end of said water conduit in saidcuspidor unit, and

(c) a lower sealing structure carried by the discharge spout of saidcuspidor unit for coaction with the upper part of said hose couplingassembly adjacent to said channel to effect a water-tight sealtherebetween.

7. A portable cupsidor unit comprising:

(a) a funnel-shaped cup having a discharge spout constituting ahand-hold shank,

(b) an axial bore in said shank opening at its upper end into the bottomof said cup, the lower portion of said axial bore being of enlargeddiameter to provide a cylindrical recess,

(c) a water conduit in said shank having its lower inlet end openinginto the base of said cylindrical recess and its outlet and opening atthe upper end of said shank exteriorly of said cup,

(d) a water discharge tube at the upper periphery of said cup providedwith openings for discharging Water into said cup to flush the same,

(e) a water supply tube exteriorly of said cup and connected to saidwater discharge tube, and

(f) valve means connecting said water conduit outlet with said watersupply tube for controlling the flow of water to said water dischargetube.

8. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 1, including:

(a) a hose coupling assembly having an upper cylindrical head portionand a tubular body portion,

(b) a suction tube positioned axially within said head and tubular bodyportions and extending beyond said head portion,

(c) a water delivery tube arranged coaxially within said suction tube,

((1) said cylindrical recess in said shank receiving said hose couplingassembly head, and

(e) readily attachable and detachable locking means for connecting saidhose coupling assembly head to said shank, said tubular body portion ofsaid hose coupling assembly constituting with said shank a handle forsaid cup.

9. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 8, wherein:

(a) in the attachment of said hose coupling assembly to said shank, theupper end of said suction tube extends into the axial bore of saidshank,

(b) the upper end of the water delivery tube extends laterally throughthe side of said suction tube adjacent the top of said head, and

(c) there being defined between the top of said head and the base ofsaid cylindrical recess an annular water distribution chamber into whichthe lateral upper end of the water delivery tube opens.

10. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 9, including:

(a) an upper sealing structure within said shank engageable by the upperend of said suction tube to provide an air and water-tight seal betweensaid suction tube and the axial bore in said shank,

(b) a lower sealing structure within said shank engageable by the upperend of said head portion to provide a water-tight seal between said headand the wall of said cylindrical recess, and

(c) spring pressed retaining pins mounted in said shank and engageablewith said head to retain the locked connection between said hosecoupling assembly and said shank and to prevent accidental turning,loosening or removal of the hose coupling assembly relative to saidshank.

11. A portable cuspidor unit comprising:

(a) a frusto-conical cup having a discharge opening at its smaller andlower end,

(b) a cup base having an upper flared frusto-conical seat portionreceiving a lower portion of said frustoconical cup and secured thereto,

(c) said cup base having a lower hand-holding shank with an axial boretherethrough formed to register at its upper end with the dischargeopening in said p,

(d) a water conduit in said shank and seat portion of said cup basehaving a lower inlet and an upper outlet,

(e) a water discharge tube secured to the upper periphcry of said cupprovided with circumferentially spaced openings for discharging waterinto said cup to flush the same,

(f) valve means for controlling the flow of water and having its inletconnected to the outlet of said water conduit and its outlet connectedto said water discharge tube,

(g) a valve operating member disposed adjacent said shank for actuationby a finger of the hand when holding said shank,

(h) a hose coupling assembly connected at one end to a suction hose anda water delivery hose,

(i) an attaching head on the other end of said hose coupling assembly,

(j) means on said hand-holding shank for receiving said attaching head,and

(k) readily attachable and detachably cooperating locking means on saidhand-holding shank and a"- taching head for detachably connecting saidhose coupling assembly to said shank.

12. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 11, wherein (a) said hosecoupling assembly includes separate suction and water delivery tubeseach respectively connected to said suction hose and water deliveryhose,

(b) means connecting said suction tube to the lower end of said axialbore, and

(c) channel means within said shank connecting said water delivery tubeto the lower inlet of said water conduit in said shank.

13. A portable cuspidor unit comprising:

(a) a frusto-conical cup having a discharge opening at its smaller andlower end,

(b) a cup base having an upper flared frusto-conical seat portionreceiving a lower portion of said frustoconical cup and secured thereto,

(c) said cup base having a lower hand-hold shank with an axial boretherethrough formed to register at its upper end with the dischargeopening in said cup,

(cl) a cylindrical recess in the lower portion of said shank having aninner bottom into which the lower end of said axial bore opens,

(e) a water conduit in said shank and frusto-conical seat portion havingits inlet opening at the bottom of said cylindrical recess and itsoutlet at the upper edge of said seat portion,

(f) an annular tube secured to the upper peripheral edge of saidfrusto-conical cup provided with a row of circumferentially spacedopenings for discharging water into said cup to flush the same,

(g) a valve having a valve body containing a spring loaded valve and alever for actuating the same,

(h) the valve body having an inlet and an outlet,

(i) a lower water supply tube connecting the inlet of said valve body tothe outlet of said water conduit,

(j) an upper water supply tube connecting the outlet of said valve bodyto said annular tube, and

(k) said valve lever having an angled extension arranged parallel to andadjacent said shank, thereby to be actuated by a finger of the hand whenholding the shank of said cup.

14. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 13, including (a) a pair ofdiametrically opposed locking pins fixed in the wall of said cylindricalrecess adjacent the lower end thereof and forming part of a bayonet slotconnection,

(b) a pair of vertical retaining pins Within said shank and eachdisposed within a vertical hole, one at each side of the axial bore ofsaid shank and in a diametral vertical plane located at least 90 fromthe diametral vertical plane of said locking pins with each retainingpin extending downwardly through the bottom of said cylindrical recess,and

(c) spring means within each hole for urging said retaining pinsoutwardly thereof.

15. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 14, wherein:

(a) a hose coupling assembly having an upper cylindrical head and atubular body portion is detachably connected to said shank,

(b) said head has formed therein a pair of bayonet slots for coactionwith said locking pins such as to lock said head within said cylindricalrecess, said head being retained against movement in said cylindricalrecess by engagement of said spring pressed retaining pins therewith,

(c) said hose coupling assembly includes coaxial suction and waterdelivery tubes and the latter being contained within the former and towhich are respectively connected a suction hose and a water de-' liveryhose of a coaxial duplex flexible hose assembly,

(d) said suction tube having an upper extension fitted into the axialbore of said shank,

(e) an air and water sealing means between said tube extension and axialbore and carried by said shank,

(f) a water sealing means between said head and Wall of said cylindricalrecess and carried by said wall,

(g) an annular water distributing channel provided between the top ofsaid head and the bottom of said cylindrical recess, and

(h) the upper end of said water delivery tube being bent laterally andsecured within an opening in the wall of said suction tube communicatingwith said annular channel, whereby water flowing through said waterdelivery tube will enter said annular channel and flow into the inletopening of said water conduit in the bottom of said cylindrical recessto flow thereafter through said water conduit, lower water supply tube,valve body and upper water supply tube to said annular tube fordischarge into said cup.

16. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 15, wherein:

(a) the head and tubular body portion of said hose coupling assembly isformed of plastic,

(b) said suction tube and coaxial water delivery tube are each formed ofmetal,

(c) means permanently securing said suction tube to said plastic headand tubular body portion,

((1) said water delivery tube at its lower end extending axially beyondthe corresponding end of said suction tube, and

(e) an annular recess at the lower end of said tubular body portionsurrounding said suction tube for receiving an end of a suction hose tobe attached to said suction tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 740,538 10/ 1903Coykendall 4-263 1,754,757 4/1930 Moore 4-263 1,869,036 7/1932 Zink4-263 X 2,567,318 9/1951 Braun 20061.58 X 3,066,318 12/1962 Albigese4263 3,141,937 7/1964 Edward 20061.58 3,226,733 1/1966 Ashton 4263SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, H. J. GROSS,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A PORTABLE DENTAL CUSPIDOR FLUID AND DEBRIS RECEIVING AND DISCHARGINGSYSTEM COMPRISING: (A) A POWER OPERATED PATIENT-CONTROLLABLE SUCTIONUNIT, (B) A PORTABLE HAND-HELD DENTAL CUSPIDOR RECEPTACLE HAVING ADISCHARGE SPOUT FOR RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING FLUID AND DEBRIS ANDARRANGED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE HAND OF A PATIENT ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGESPOUT, (C) A FLEXIBLE SUCTION HOSE CONNECTING THE DISCHARGE SPOUT OFSAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID SUCTION UNIT, (D) A FLEXIBLE WATER DELIVERY HOSECONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLE TO A SOURCE OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE, (E)VALVE MEANS ON SAID RECEPTACLE FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF WATERFROM SAID WATER DELIVERY HOSE TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR FLUSHING THE SAMEAND HAVING